New `Florida Space` conference created by space leaders

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 13, 2004) — Florida’s space community will gather next November to celebrate successes and face challenges still to come at Florida Space 2005, a new conference announced today by leaders of prominent space organizations. Florida Space 2005 will honor the heritage and build on the best features of Space Congress and the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Symposium, both retired now in favor of this new event to be held each year and operated by the Space Foundation. In a show of unity, Elliot G. Pulham, president and chief executive officer of the Space Foundation, was joined by Dr. Woodrow Whitlow, Jr., deputy director of the Kennedy Space Center; Col. Mark H. Owen, commander of the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base; Dr. James W. Johnson, chairman of the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies; and retired Navy Capt. Winston E. Scott, executive director of the Florida Space Authority, in signing a memorandum of agreement to launch the first Florida Space conference in November 2005. The signing occurred at the Florida Space Authority campus. “The signing of this memorandum of agreement today signals a fresh start for the Florida space community,” said Pulham. “This event will bring together diverse organizations from Florida’s civil, commercial, national security and education sectors that have a common interest in space. The Space Foundation is honored to be given this opportunity and promises a dynamic event, building on our more than 20 years of quality event-hosting experience.” The updated conference will continue the legacy of Space Congress, which for the past 41 years has been a staple of the Space Coast calendar each spring. Coordinated each year by a government-industry team of volunteers, the event benefited the educational programs of the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies. Florida Space 2005 also will feature elements of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Symposium, which convened for the eighth time this past summer and provided a means to improve partnerships with and between NASA, the 45th Space Wing and the Florida Space Authority. Florida Space 2005 is expected to become the leading event serving the Florida space community and economy. “The Florida Space 2005 partnership of the Kennedy Space Center, the 45th Space Wing, the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies, the Space Foundation and the Florida Space Authority illustrates state, industry and government commitment to technical and economic growth,” said Scott. “The conference, which will focus on space exploration opportunities, issues and challenges, will assist space professionals located throughout the state. With space exploration providing over $4.5 billion in revenue to more than 45 counties, the impact of dollars and high-tech jobs to Florida is substantial.” Additional details about the Florida Space 2005 conference will be forthcoming in the new year. Media inquiries should be directed to Andy Roake, director of media relations for the Space Foundation. He can be reached at (719) 576-8000 or by e-mail at [email protected]. For further information about today’s signing ceremony and other Space Foundation activities in Florida, please contact Jim Banke, vice president of Florida operations for the Space Foundation, at (321) 868-6288 or [email protected]. About the Space Foundation Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and educational excellence. The Space Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., and Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Space Foundation annually conducts, along with its partnering organizations, the National Space Symposium, scheduled April 4-7, 2005, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs; and Strategic Space 2005, scheduled Oct. 4-6 in Omaha, Neb. For more information, visit www.spacefoundation.org.